Reunion is just another word for PARTY!!!

For as long as I can remember my family has gone to a big reunion over the Independence Day Holiday. This has been an event that I have always looked forward to. Whats not to like? Nature, good. Grandparents, good. Cousins, GOOOOOD!! This year I was expecting to have to miss the reunion but thanks to awesome parents and a conveniently placed July birthday lil'guy and I found ourselves in the company of trees, aunts and adventure.

Over the course of four days we all had a lovely time playing cards, laughing and enjoying the scenery. Here is my littlest sister with her beloved, being over come with joy at the beautiful prospect. Not to shabby? Bet you''ll put your name in for the next reunion.
We had a few adventures while camping. A group of us decided to try out the local scene. Bumper boats were the common consensus and hence we waited in line. And waited and waited. Some took the time to get to know their cousins better. Then entertained themselves with their Grandma's sunglasses. Thanks Buckabooe!

When we finally got on the bumper boats, it was a heap of fun. Lil'guy didn't really appreciate getting wet but such is life. He just held on for all he was worth and cracked a smile or two. Afterwards there were water guns at our disposal and we made the best of them. Starting a huge water fight and drenching many, including patrons not of relation. They may not want our gang back there any time soon. Got to love the memories. I am sure they we never forget it. On the last day of the reunion, on our way home, the "BIG C" group stopped off for a bite and to celebrate the birth of the littlest sister. Say Cheese!When we returned to the family homeland we still had time to be together and went on more adventures to entertain the little ones. What could be in there that is intriguing some many children? What indeed.Oh yes, FISH what else could be so captivating. Look Lil'guy there are some big ones. A day at the beach is all that anyone could ask for and so as a last activity the beach is where we all found our selves. Here are the parental ones showing us all how it is done. Lil'guy grasped the concept rather quickly. What better way to enjoy the sand than to share it with a new found friend. Here is Lil'guy trying to put as much sand as possible, on the littlest sister's baby. They will so miss us!Who says you can't lounge in the water. Making the example an art form. Lil'guy getting the hang of this lake thing. Just the two of us watching over the chillen while they play and splash in the cool ripples. Child control is a continues job. Sometimes a vacation isn't really a vacation. Two sister moms calming, protecting, guiding and directing.All in all it was a grand time and we will treasure the memories all our lives. Thanks Mom and Dad for providing this opportunity! Love you!!

Girls Camp-O-Rama

So two years ago when I was expecting our little one, I was asked to be our Young Woman Camp Coordinator for our ward. I declined due to the fact that I would be seven months pregnant and that didn't seem like a fun time to be camping. This last spring in a new ward not to mention a new state, I was asked to do the same calling. No baby was on the way and so I called up my in laws to see if they would be willing to watch the little one while the hubby worked and I went off to camp. They accepted and I did the same for stake girls camp. Had I known how fun and liberating girls camp would be, I might have gone two years before seven months pregnant and all.

The theme was, SAIL, Sisters Anchored in the Lord. So Pirates we became and every ward camp site had to create their own ship. Isn't it beautiful!! Ya those are little cracker fish in the pool.

Here I am with the other two camp leaders from my ward. Sister P. in the brown (Watch out for her she's tricky) and Sister C. in the red (The queen of outdoor adventure). We are hard at work making breakfast. Yeeha! I swear the longer I am in the wilderness the more wild my hair gets. Notice the awesome Goonies shirt I am wearing for the occasion.

Some of our wild and crazy girls. All our girls slept under the stars. As leaders we felt a responsibility to take cover in tents.

While the girls were going about their daily activities of crafts and certification, we as leaders felt it was our responsibility to run away and play. Canoeing was just one of our adventures, we weren't the most expert paddlers but we had a good laugh that we would feel for days after. There was also a rope swing that dropped us out over the water which we all enjoyed thoroughly.

Yes , the notorious rope bridge (monkey bridge, well named for what it does next)This was supposed to be a picture of three happy leaders but the tricky one, aka Sister P. thought it would be funny to jump on the end of the bridge while Sister C. and I were in the middle.

Now you know why it is called a monkey bridge.

I didn't really want to let go but gravity would win in the end but I will have my revenge on that one Sister P. Later this same day while swimming in the very muddy stream Sister C. and I were able to ambush the "tricky sister" with handfuls of some the the smoothest mud ever to be found.

While out and about in our camping adventure I was introduced to the rainy season. We were all able to still have fun and stay mostly dry while the rains persisted.

We even managed to make a fire when the rain started to lighten up a bit.

It wouldn't be girls camp without a five mile hike? So both of the Sisters and I joined our girls in that effort. We had a dandy time and were quite surprised with some of the terrain.

It's not to often that one comes to a, "DANGEROUS INTERSECTION" durring a "wilderness" hike but so it was. We all had a lovely time and made it back in one piece.

Our Bishop rallied and won a pirate look-a-like contest. Yeah, we have the coolest bishop ever!! and just look at the woman he caught. ARRG!

Each ward(s) had to do a skit. Our little ward was put together with an other little ward and as a team of the roughest, toughest pirate girls around we made magic happen. Not only did we have the funniest and most creative skit in the stake. BUT . . .

We were asked to preform it again when the stake and ward leaders came for a visit. Yea, our heads were very large that day.

As all the leaders of the group of girls that we camped with, we were bursting with pride (some times it's ok!) and affection for those silly girls that not only brought glory to our campsite for a most amazing and desired skit but our camp received the, "HAPPY CAMPERS AWARD" not just once but twice. So it is safe to say that Girls Camp was filled with joy and surprises that would make any outdoor hater envious. The girls and women (What am I saying?! Everyone reverts back to being 13 years old at Girls Camp!!! Yahoo!!!) that I was able to plan, play and laugh with were with out a doubt amazing and a pleasure to be with. Count me in for next year!

Yo Ho Yo Ho a girls camp life for me!! Yo Ho!

Special thanks to the IN-LAWS for helping out with the little one. Couldn't have done it without you.

Simple Pleasures

Many things in life are so simple. Those same things if someone is to busy, may be passed by as if it were a pile of junk.

In the process of becoming a parent I have discovered a new way of thinking, or "seeing". Simple "junk or trash", that once upon a time would have been thrown in the garbage or recycle bin, have now become treasures that provide hours of endless pleasure. Examples of these simple things: a box, a stick, a paper bag. That if taken lightly or thrown away without a second thought would have deprived a child of joy and a parent of stress free time.



For example, while cleaning out the car one day I came across a pile of large magnets that advertised Boise State University and how to get football tickets.



Well, now that we don't live in Boise anymore (and that we already had one) my first impulse was to toss these in the trash. Then a thought, "I bet The Little One would love playing with these." So I took them into our apartment and stuck seven of these magnets on our refrigerator.

I must say that this goes against my nature. I have a hard time with clutter, especially in the main living area. It drives me crazy to have to much stuff around. But I must remember to have a mommy mind! Just look what The Little One might have missed out on.



One day I was watching one of his buddies and the two of them just had a ball. For at least an hour these two boys pulled off and rearranged the magnets. Tested what they would stick on and what they wouldn't. It was so fun to watch and so easy to get thing done around their discoveries.

What a shame it would have been if I would have gone with my first reaction and dismissed the unsightly pile of magnets. Now I have a very happy boy who plays with these at least thirty minutes everyday. My refrigerator is cluttered but it is all worth it to see the joy in those beautiful blue eyes. SIMPLE PLEASURES!! I'll take them anytime.

Is it SPRING or is it WINTER?

One day it is a beautiful 70 degrees and the next you wake up to two inches of snow on the ground. Where does this happen? 7000 feet round!

Yesterday the little one and I went on a glorious walk in the beauty of the Spring. 70 degrees and hardly any wind. Today I woke up to two inches of snow and my beautiful Spring was working on more. What could I do? So I called up a friend and asked if she and her little one would like to bask in the pleasures of living @ 7000 feet. She accepted my offer and soon the little ones were in for a surprise.

They weren't quite sure what to think. So they said to each other, "You touch it, No you!"
So one did while the other looked on.

The one thought, "Hey this isn't to bad."


"Oh, but wait this doesn't feel nice. My Momma may have been right about keeping my mittens on. Oh, I don't like this!"

The one followed the other one saying, "You have the right idea, lets get out of here. What were our Mothers thinking?"

"This is so much better that that cold stuff!"


"Ok, Mom this wasn't such a bad idea. Hey, it will make a nice blog entry. Now let's get in where it is warm."

So the little one and I retreated to our warm world of family college living, hoping that the next day will bring 70 degree weather so we can swim instead of making snowmen.

THE END

Window Watching

As of late our family has experienced a period of illness. This has prevented little one and mama from venturing out into the outreaches of our abode. Therefore to supplement for lack of outdoor exposure, the little one reaches up on his tip top toes to seek pleasures from our scenic view. AKA, beautiful Ponderosa pine forest and the occasional passerby playing Frisbee golf. He also enjoys chattering down to the players to see if any reply may be offered. It is quite entertaining for the mama as well as those select passersby that thrill the little one with a, "hey there."

Just a LITTLE off the Top!!

So for about a month our little one has needed a hair cut. He was starting to look a little too white trash to me with shaggyness peeking over his ears and down his neck. My sweetheart kept telling me that he would take care of it. However, as time passed, this mama became impatient and took matters into her own hands. Who needs experience, I have a beard trimmer and time on my side. In the hopes that I would be able to produce a masterpiece of hair before my beloved came home, I started on my little plan. Word to the wise, when your eyes fill up with tears because you are laughing to much, it's probably a good idea to stop. Hind site is definitely 20/20! By the time I had decided not to keep up the hair cutting attempt, the damage was done. Instead of having a cute little boy with spiky hair. (it doesn't lay down. ever!) I now had a Hitler youth on my hands.

Luckily he only had to endure this torture for two days till I, his totally humiliated and incompetent hair cutting mother took him into the salon to get it fixed. Talk about an embarrassing explanation. Now we have a darling spiky Marine on our hands. No more home "improvements" for awhile at least.

Not to mention we have a very happy boy. Isn't he cute!!!